How To Tell If You Are Seeing Mr. Right

Art: Robin Mead. Page Updated: July 2019

Social Security has some very specific ideas about what kind of doctor they would like you to see. There are certain doctors they’ve decided are the right kind. These are called “Acceptable Medical Sources.”

You are not required to have all of your doctors be Acceptable Medical Sources. However, it can be extremely helpful and important to have strong medical evidence from at least one doctor who is an Acceptable Medical Source. More than one is even better.

What is the right kind of doctor?

The rules that will apply to your case depend on when you first submitted your Social Security disability application:

🌻 Old rules: “I first applied before March 27, 2017”

🌻 New rules: “I first applied on or after March, 27, 2017”

Help! I Don’t Know Which Date to Use.

🌻 I’m still applying and don’t know which rules to use

🌻 I’m already approved and don’t know which rules to use

Help! My Doctor is Not an Acceptable Medical Source.

🌻 What Do I Do If My Doctor is Not an Acceptable Medical Source?

Policy

🌻 Social Security Policy on Acceptable Medical Sources,

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